Resources
Help is available.
Grants & Scholarships for Families
The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program
The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program (formerly Gardiner Scholarship) provides eligible students a scholarship that can be used to purchase approved services or products in order to design a customized educational program for the student. Scholarships can be used for specialized services such as speech or occupational therapy, instructional materials, tuition at an eligible private school, contributions to a college prepaid account and more. The program is directly administered by state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organizations.
United Healthcare Children’s Foundation
UHCCF’s mission is to help fill the gap between what medical services/items a child needs and what their commercial health benefit plan will pay for. UHCCF grants provide financial help/assistance for families with children who have medical needs not covered or not fully covered by their commercial health insurance plan.
Grants for Families Affected by ASD
Below is a list of grants that may be available to families needing assistance. If you have questions about any of these programs, please contact the sponsoring foundation or organization directly.
The following grants are available anytime:
C.A.R.E Foundation
CARE Family Grant Program is mainly for helping families with medication, autism diagnosis/evaluation, therapy sessions (including speech, OT and ABA,) and autism summer camps.
IPads for Kids Program
iPads for Kids Program provides free iPads to families of nonverbal children with Autism. The Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation (ASDF) has donated iPads to individuals and special education classrooms to help nonverbal autistic children with communication and learning. Starting January 1, 2024, ASDF will be accepting iPad applications each month throughout 2024. Families may apply each month to receive an iPad for their child with autism. 50 recipients will be randomly selected monthly from the completed applications received. Regrettably, incomplete applications cannot be accepted. In order to support as many children as possible, only one iPad per child can be provided every three years.
Modest Needs
Modest Needs hallmark grant is our Self-Sufficiency Grant. We make Self-Sufficiency Grants in an effort to assist individuals and families who, because they are working and live just above the poverty level, are ineligible for most types of conventional social assistance but who, all the same, are living one or two lost paychecks away from the kind of financial catastrophe that eventually leads to homelessness.
NSW Kids Program
Our NSWKids program supports direct educational diagnostic testing, services and tutoring/mentoring and support to the families of active duty SEALs, SWCC and support personnel who have special needs children. Recent examples of where we’ve helped include: spouse respite, emergency home repairs for deployed service members, urgent child care and primary care individual replacement.
National Autism Association
The National Autism Association provides communication devices to individuals with autism who are non-verbal or minimally verbal and whose communication challenges put them at risk of injury or harm.
The following grants are available during specific months:
MyGOAL Inc.
MyGOAL Inc. Enrichment Grant is a grant program that will enable families to take advantage of socialization and educational opportunities designed for individuals with special needs. MyGOAL offers a yearly grant to families across the United States, to support and care for individuals under 18 years old with autism. MyGOAL Autism Grant is a program to support families caring for individuals with Autism. The MyGOAL Autism Grant is offered once a year, applications are available at the beginning of the year and decisions are rendered in mid-July.
Grants Available During January
ACT Today! Grants
ACT Today! grants are designed to provide access to individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. Grant payments will be made directly to pre-approved treatment providers, assessors or materials vendors.
Small Steps in Speech
Small Steps in Speech is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization which provides grants on behalf of children with speech and language disorders for therapies, treatments, communicative devices, and other services aimed at improving their communication skills. Due February 1st.
Grants Available During February
The Orange Effect Foundation
Founded in 2014, The Orange Effect Foundation is a 501(c)3 foundation that empowers children and young adults with speech disorders to effectively communicate through technology and speech therapy. This program provides funding for speech therapy and speech technology items. Due February 15th.
Grants Available During March
Varghese Summersett PLLC Annual Scholarships
The special needs scholarships can be used offset the cost of camp, tutoring, classes, secondary education, post-secondary education or tools to help them learn and flourish.
Grants Available During April
The Orange Effect Foundation
Founded in 2014, The Orange Effect Foundation is a 501(c)3 foundation that empowers children and young adults with speech disorders to effectively communicate through technology and speech therapy. This program provides funding for speech therapy and speech technology items. Due May 15th.
Grants Available During May
Small Steps in Speech
Small Steps in Speech is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization which provides grants on behalf of children with speech and language disorders for therapies, treatments, communicative devices, and other services aimed at improving their communication skills. Due June 1st.
ASDF Programs
ASDF provides emotional, educational and financial assistance to families dealing with the challenges of raising an autistic child. Scholarships are available for various summer camp programs. Applications accepted May 1st through May 21st.
Grants Available During July
ACT Today! Grants
ACT Today! grants are designed to provide access to individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. Grant payments will be made directly to pre-approved treatment providers, assessors or materials vendors.
Grants Available During August
The Orange Effect Foundation
Founded in 2014, The Orange Effect Foundation is a 501(c)3 foundation that empowers children and young adults with speech disorders to effectively communicate through technology and speech therapy. This program provides funding for speech therapy and speech technology items. Due August 15th.
Grants Available During October
ACT Today! Grants
ACT Today! grants are designed to provide access to individuals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. Grant payments will be made directly to pre-approved treatment providers, assessors or materials vendors.
Small Steps in Speech
Small Steps in Speech is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization which provides grants on behalf of children with speech and language disorders for therapies, treatments, communicative devices, and other services aimed at improving their communication skills. Due November 1st.
ASDF’s Holiday Gift Card Program
Through the ASDF’s Holiday Gift Card Program, we provide families across the country with $250 gift cards for the holidays.
ASDF Social Skills Camp
Parents email us when they find a camp for their child. We ask them for the name of the camp, the dates they are looking at and the cost of the camp. If funds are available and we are able to help them, we will require documentation from their child's doctor stating that he/she is on the Autism Spectrum.
Grants Available During November
The Orange Effect Foundation
Founded in 2014, The Orange Effect Foundation is a 501(c)3 foundation that empowers children and young adults with speech disorders to effectively communicate through technology and speech therapy. This program provides funding for speech therapy and speech technology items. Due November 15th.
Additional Resources
Autism Help and Information | Autism Speaks *You can also find providers who do ASD evals on this site.
Autism Speaks is dedicated to creating an inclusive world for all individuals with autism throughout their lifespan. Through advocacy, services, support, research and innovation, and advances in care for autistic individuals and their families. Autism Speaks can provide additional help and information to get the support you need.
Safety Net Program | Florida Department of Health (floridahealth.gov)
The Children’s Medical Services’ (CMS) Safety Net Program can help pay for some medically necessary health services and family needs. Find out how they may be able to help you.
Learn more>
Applying for Services | Customers (myflorida.com)
To be eligible for services from the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (“APD”), an individual must have a developmental disability (as defined in section 393.063(12), Florida Statutes), which occurs prior to age 18 and constitutes a substantial handicap that can reasonably be expected to continue indefinitely.
About Us | APD - Agency for Persons with Disabilities - State of Florida (myflorida.com)
Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) works with local communities and private providers to support people who have developmental disabilities and their families in living, learning, and working in their communities. APD also assists in identifying the needs of people with developmental disabilities for support and services so they can reach their full potential.
Florida Medicaid Waiver
Although there are waivers for many conditions, Florida Medicaid Waivers focuses on waivers for people who have intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, and autism.
Florida - Kids' Waivers (kidswaivers.org) *waives all income
Florida currently has three waivers that are open to children. All are HCBS 1915(c) Medicaid waivers, and all waive parental income.
Autism Resources | Florida Department of Health (floridahealth.gov)
Numerous autism resources and information to assist parents and caregivers.
Resources | Autism Society of Florida | United States (autismfl.org)
The Autism Society of Florida Resources - A directory containing many valuable resources and information about agencies and organizations.
Family Resource Fund - The Coordinating Center
The Family Resource Fund provides clients of The Coordinating Center with financial assistance to purchase items or services that are not covered by Medicaid or Medicare.